Grandma & Grandpa's Garden of Goodness

This weekend I took some of my furniture to store at my grandparents' house (sob). They live in a traditional Suffolk thatched cottage that is over 400 years old and utterly dreamy. Beams and wonky floorboards and door frames so low that I have to fold in half to fit through and steep stairs and mysterious cupboards and perfect.

Saturday Style Sessions - DIY and Nails (both types..)!

Hi guys!

This weekend I have the pleasure of sorting ALL my furniture, clothes, kitchen equipment and general bits out to start getting ready for moving out of the flat. We are taking things off walls, Polyfilla-ing in the holes, painting over the top, taking beds apart - you name it! OOTD therefore is not very glam but does feature the amazing leggings I got the other week from Gap (which are proving to be as comfy, warm and awesome as I had hoped).

Pink shirt from H&M, black vest top also from H&M, the leggings from Gap and Converse trainers! Also rocking the Revlon Balm Stain again.

Clean Eating - SOUP!

Hi guys!

I mentioned in Saturday's post that I wanted to try eating 'cleanly' this week (after too many sweets, fizzy drinks and rich foods on training all of last week!). So yesterday I plodded off to the supermarket and bought [whatfeltlike] the whole vegetable aisle in the supermarket ready for fresh, tasty goodness for the next few days.

Today's kick off menu started with Cheerios (a flying start...! But I need cereal to start the day well. Fruit is not enough). I had a banana mid-morning and some Twinings Pineapple and Grapefruit Green Tea (which I'm LOVING) and then for lunch had two hard boiled eggs, three Original Ryvita crispbreads anddd a massive Tupperware box of cherry tomatoes, cucumber, pepper and carrots. This isn't too different from a normal lunch for me - I tend to always have a pile of veg with whatever I'm eating and actually love it. To satisfy the (major) sweet tooth, I had a low fat cherry yogurt and then mid afternoon I gobbled an apple.

This evening I got my Jamie on and whipped up a GOOD, CLEAN, GREEN soup. Onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, courgette and broccoli all whizzed together with bucket loads of cumin. My first soup of the autumn and I'll have PLENTY to eat later this week of freeze for lunches.

I even cheffed it up with creme fraiche and black pepper!

Saturday Style Sessions - Seaside and House Hunting!

Firstly apologies for the slight delay in getting this blogpost live - have been travelling around the UK because I'M MOVING HOUSE - ARGH! I am off to work for six months on the south coast, by the seaside! I have therefore been visiting this weekend with J to find somewhere to call home from end Sept to beginning April. Had I had lots and lots of money, I would ideally have found a one bed flat right by the beach and in town etc BUT I do not have said money so have settled for a really nice, clean and modern shared house with other 'professionals' (baha I'm professional..?!). Once we had found a room for me we then got to work having a little holiday by the seaside! We stayed overnight last night and then drove back this morning. Outfit of the day plus other sunny, beachy holiday snaps for you below - no photos from today because it was CHUCKING it down so we just hit the road. Such a shame I'm moving down for the freezing winter months but I'm still romantically believing I'll be able to take strolls along the beach on crisp, clear days (we'll see whether this materialises...!).

Black jeans from Tesco (as before - DON'T judge!) , top from Warehouse, black cardigan and jersey snood from Gap. Clutch because we went straight out to dinner from the beach!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

Rendezvous 040

Honey 001

Rendezvous on the lippies

I recently bought two of Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains, in 001 Honey and 040 Rendezvous. These were a GOOD buy. Lipglosses can be sticky, hair-attracting disasters and lipsticks sometimes feel like too much (for me, anyway) so these have found their own perfect spot in my makeup bag somewhere inbetween the two andnowiwearthemeveryday. After application they feel like you're wearing a lip balm but the stain remains for several hours after the balm has worn off. Both of the colours are bright and yet not fluorescent so perfect for day to day wear as well as nights out. It does feel like you're using a fat colouring crayon (hence Clinique's Chubby Sticks, I suppose!) but they are very easy to apply even for non-makeup artistes extraordinaires (me).

All in all I have nothing bad to say about these lip heroes - I might even have to pop back down to Boots and broaden my collection of colours...!

Would be interested to know if anyone has used both these and the Chubby Sticks and can therefore compare? At two for £10 (when I bought them), these are a bargain versus Clinique but would like to know the differences and whether the Chubby Sticks live up to their hype?

Thanks for reading!
JAM x

Saturday Style Sessions - Spontaneous Special Treat

Hi guys! This week I had a moment of hedonistic spontaneity and decided on the spot that, for the second time in my life, and for no particular occasion, I wanted to get my nails done.

I tinker with nail polish and love having nicely painted nails but lack the patience and left-handed-control to do a good job. And even when I do it well I still manage to chip it all off in a matter of hours. So in my excitable moment I rang a local beautician up and managed to secure a slot!

I got a Shellac manicure and was all set on getting a nice pale pink that would just look like I had lovely, neat manicured nails. But then I got there and the amazing palette of colours got the better of me! So out I walk with fluorescent, almost neon orange-coral nails....ANDILOVETHEM.

Before:

Naked nails.

Uneven, flaky nails and BAD cuticles!

After!

SHINYYY!

The colour was Shellac Tropix and I think number 17... 

We'll see how long they last, I'm trying to be extra careful and gentle with everything but I can only keep it up so long! Any tips on how to prolong wear? Also, I'm slightly concerned about the whole getting them off situation... Advice VERY welcome!

Enjoying wandering around London today, post on my little adventure to follow :).

Have a lovely weekend and thanks for reading!

JAM.